But as we devoted basketball partisans know, all sports are not created equal. Following the NFL is an impossibly different task than being a fan of baseball or the NBA. It's the same with politics: there are distinct divisions between certain sectors.

Presidential politics: NBA

A league of stars and style. [Barack/LeBron, Carter/Wade, Monroe/Mikan] A history filled with very specific, seminal moments. Ebbs and flows during the campaign. Defined set of names that matter, with the occasional surprise uprising. The main character seeks specific complements [Kobe/Kidd, McCain/Lieberman]. Lots of spectacle. Obama at the convention in '04 : LeBron, Game 5; Hillary at the convention tonight : Kobe in the fourth against Spain. (Note: Olbermann's first words after the speech: "Grand slam." I would have went with "Dagger!" or "Bang!" or even "YES!" Damn, Keith.)

Obama/LeBron the new vaunted hope who manages to live up to his hype too early. Hillary/Kobe the cold, cerebral tactician who comes off as kind of a jerk, has no capacity to accept defeat, and seems to put people off even if they cannot deny the overwhelming skills. Also LeBron/Obama as the new heir to the throne/savior that Kobe/Hillary was originally supposed to mean.

The more I think about it the more I convince myself.

(For the record I'm a Obama fan as well as a Kobe fan, so I'm not sure if that influenced the analogy in any way)

Unfortunately, that Kanye one is not that true (he did not have a disappointing followup); seeing that I can't go anywhere without seeing these: http://www.sneakerrehab.com/site/images/uploads/kanye_glasses.JPG